Breast pump device



1936. P. A. FRIMAND BREAST PUMP DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1932 Patented Nov.10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates generally to breast pump devices, and moreparticularly to improvements in portable types of pumping devices forgeneral use in the home or hospital. Conventional types of breast pumpdevices with which I am familiar, and particularly those of the poweroperated type are complicated in design, bulky in construction, and areinconveniently heavy.

It is one of the primary objects of my present invention to overcome theabove mentioned and other disadvantages by providing a breast pumpdevice which is extremely simple in construction, is made up ofrelatively few parts, and is very efiiciently operable.

Another object of my present invention is to provide in a device of thenature set forth above, a pumping unit proper which is of extremelysimple construction and may be very conveniently assembled ordisassembled for purposes of repair, replacement, sterilization, and thelike.

More specifically, my invention contemplates a breast pump device, inwhich the pumping unit is so arranged that by merely removing onesection thereof, the entire pump housing or chamber is exposed, andfurthermore, I propose to provide a pumping unit which may be sterilizedby a simple transposition of elements from one nipple to another.

Still more specifically, my invention contemplates the provision of adevice as set forth above, in which a resilient diaphragm detachablyconnectible with a companion chamber pump section is employed, and Ipropose to so arrange said diaphragm as to render the same readilydetachable for replacement, repair, cleansing, etc.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages will be moreapparent from the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a sideelevational view of a breast pumping device which is representative ofone embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken centrally of thepumping unit of Figure 1 in combination with a transverse centralsectional view of the breast attachment detached from the pumping unitproper;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along theline 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectionalview of the upper portion of thebreast attachment equipped with one of my improved nipple receivinginserts.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail wherein like numerals havebeen employed to vable clamping screw 66.

the flexible member or diaphragm is formed 5 0 designate similar partsthroughout the various figures, it will be seen that my inventioncontemplates the provision of a breast pumping device which includes asuitable base In preferably supported by resilient or rubber feet I2.Secured to ,5; the base ID at one end thereof is a suitable powermechanism or electric motor I4, the drive shaft l6 of which terminatesin a worm structure l8, Figure 1. This worm meshes with a companion wormwheel 20. A pair of crank arms 22 positioned on opposite sides of anddriven from the worm wheel 20 are pivotally connected at their freeextremities to arms 24 which, in plan, present a U-shaped construction,said arms being connected by a cross arm or section 26, Figure 3. 15

The arms 24 andthe cross element 26 formed integral therewith providethe connecting link between the power mechanism or motor [4 and a pumpunit, which I have designated generally by the numeral 28. a section 30formed with a pump chamber 32, said section or block being secured tothe base If! by screws 34, Figure 2. One side of the pump block orsection 30 is formed with three orifices ,or apertures 36, 38, and 40,which communicate 25 at their inner extremities with the pump chamber 32A needle valve 42 associated with the orifice 36 serves to; control thedegree of vacuum to which the chamber 32 is subjected, and this needlevalve may be manually adjusted by rotat- 30 ing the knurled head 44. Theorifice or passage 38 is positioned within a nipple 46 formed integralwith the block 30 and is designed to receive one end of a flexiblecoupling or tube 48, the opposite end of said tube connecting with abreast r35 attachment designated generally by the numeral 50, later tobe described. The orifice or passage 40 also terminates at its outer endwithin'a nipple 52 which is threaded to receive a cap 54. Anotherorifice or aperture 56 positioned in the upper por- A0 tion of the block30 communicates with a suitable vacuum gauge 58.

The movable element of the pump 28 includes a flexible or resilientcup-shaped diaphragm 60, which is provided at its medial point with aboss. 45 62. This boss extends within a socket 64 formed integral withthe cross member 26 and is secured within said socket through the agencyof a suit- The outer margin of with a flange 68. A clamping plate 10 isdesigned to be clamped against the flanges 68 through the agency of wingnuts 12, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. I prefer to have theflanges 6B of tapered cross section as indicated in Figure 2,,55

This pump unit 28 includes 20 and I also prefer to have the plate 10 ofa similar tapered or wedge-shaped cross section in order to effect amore positive sealing or clamping of the flange when the wing nuts aretightened. In order to remove the diaphragm 60, it is only necessary toloosen the wing nuts and shift the plate 10 upwardly as a unit with thearms 24, thereby exposing the walls of the chamber 32, as well as theinterior surface of the diaphragm. In this manner the parts may be veryconveniently replaced or cleaned whenever occasion de mands.

The breast attachment 50 includes a suitable bottle or receptacle 14,which is threaded at the neck thereof to receive a breast shield 16.Clamped between the neck of the bottle 14 and the shield 16 is asuitable sealing gasket I8. The shield 16 is preferably of non-breakablematerial, such as aluminum or other suitable material, and is formedwith an aperture 80 which establishes communication between the bottle14 and a flared opening 82. The wall surrounding the opening 82 issuitably shaped and arranged to provide an effective breast shield, andthe opening 80 is designed to receive the breast nipple. Extendinglaterally of the shield 16 is a nipple 84, the outer end of which isconnected with the flexible hose or tube 48 through the agency of atapered sleeve 86, a cap 88, and a gasket 90. Suitable filtering orabsorbent material 92, such as cotton, is provided within the chamber ofthe nipple 84 and prevents foreign matter from passing into the bottle14 from the pump 28. The chamber which contains the absorbent material92 conmiunicates with the bottle through an orifice 94. In operation,power is supplied from the motor 14, which causes the connecting arms 24to experience reciprocation. During the forward movement, namely, to theright, Figure 2, the arms 24 cause the diaphragm 60 to force air fromthe chamber 32, and upon the return stroke causes air to be withdrawnfrom the bottle 14 through the orifice 94, the nipple 84, the tube 48,and the nipple 46 into the chamber 32. These successive evacuations ofthe receptacle or bottle I4 produce the desired pulsating suction uponthe nipple positioned within the aperture 80. The degree of vacuumcreated within the receptacle '4 during the movement of the diaphragm 60to the left may be controlled by merely adjusting the needle valve 42.The gauge 58 indicates the degree of vacuum, and obviously the needlevalve 42 may be set for the desired amount. This adjustment feature isof the utmost importance in order to prevent the breast and nipple frombeing subjected to undue expansion during the interval of evacuation. Itwill be apparent that during the forward stroke of the diaphragm 60,namely, to the right, Figure 2, the absorbent material 92 will preventthe passage of any foreign matter into the receptacle 14. Obviously theabsorbent material 92 must be sufliciently porous so as not to impairthe suction action of the diaphragm when it moves to the left.

Attention is directed to the structure shown in Figure 4. In this figureI have shown a detachable or insertable nipple receiving element 96.This element 96 includes a sleeve-like or tubular section 98 formed atone extremity with a flange I00. The central aperture I02 of the element96 is designed to receive the nipple of the breast, and the adjacentouter surface of the element 96 cooperates with the adjacent flared orconical surface of the member 16 in providing an effective shield forthe breast proper. The advantage of the insert or detachable element 95is that it enables the breast attachment 50 to acconmodate nipples ofvarious sizes and shapes by merely selecting and employing the insertwhich is best suitable. It will be apparent that the conical surface ofthe shield 16 and the companion conical surface of the flange I00 of theelement 96 cooperate to form an effective seal for the receptacle 16when in use. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the shieldstructure 16 not only serves as a shield proper, but also functions as abottle cap, and further provides a filter for preventing the passage offoreign matter into the receptacle 94. From this standpoint, my improvedbreast attachment presents a very practical device, and it should beapparent that its construction is so simple that it can be made bypracticing the most common machine shop methods. Furthermore, itpresents many sanitary features. Its very simplicity materiallycontributes to the ease with which the associated parts may bedisconnected and cleansed.

Another practical feature of my disclosed apparatus resides in thearrangement of the nipples 40 and 52, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Inthis figure I have shown the flexible conduit or tube 48 connected withthe nipple 46 and the cap 54 secured within the nipple 52. When it isdesired to clean the chamber 32 and the associated area within thediaphragm 80, it is only necessary to remove the tube from the nipple46, and then remove the cap 54 and screw it into the nipple 46. Then theremoved extremity of the tube 48 may be placed upon the nipple 52, asindicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2, and the other extremity ofthe tube may be removed from the sleeve 86 and directed to any suitabledrain. In this manner any condensate which may have collected at thelower portion of the diaphragm and block, will be forced out through theorifice 40 and thence through the tube 48. If it is further desired toflush the chamber 32 and associated area of the diaphragm with asterilizing solution, it is only necessary to place the free extremityof the tube within the solution and allow said solution to be drawn intothe pump chamber during the movement of the diaphragm to the left,Figure 2. This may be repeated until the parts have been thoroughlycleansed. These sanitary features have a. very practical significance,and the ease with which the cleaning or sterilizing may be accomplishedpresents a decided advancement over the types of breast pump deviceswith which I am familiar.

It will be noted that the receptacle or bottle 14 may be convenientlysecured within one of two spring clips I04 and I06 secured to one sideof the block 30. By having the two clips, provision is made for theretention of a second bottle for emergency use. In order to render thepumping device more readily portable, I provide a handle I08 whichconstitutes an inverted U- shaped strip, the free extremities of whichare secured to the base l0- This handle is positioned at approximatelythe center of gravity and enables the device to automatically assume ahorizontal position when the user grips said handle.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that my invention contempatesthe provision of a breast pumping device which is very practical inconstruction and efficient in operation. The parts which constitute thedevice are relatively few in number and are compactly arranged. In otherwords, the device is of a self-contained,

portable nature. It will also be noted that the diaphragm constructionprecludes the necessity of employing lubricants within the pump chamber,thereby enabling said device to be maintained in a sanitary condition.

Obviously numerous changes and modifications may be made in thestructural features herein disclosed without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention, and said invention should be limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

The claims herein are directed to the pump construction; claims to thecombination of the pump with the breast appliance and to the applianceper se are to be presented in another application.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A breast pump device including a base, a pump structure on said baseincluding a section having a pump chamber, a flexible pumping diaphragmsuperimposing said chamber and adapted to vary pressure conditionswithin said chamber, coupling means associated with said pump chamberand adapted to be connected with a breast appliance, conducting meanscommunicating with said chamber and adapted to direct fluid such ascondensate away from said chamber, and means for closing said conductingmeans, said closing means being removable from said conducting means andattachable to said coupling.

2. A pump device comprising a base, a pump structure on said baseincluding a rigid section defining a pump chamber, a flexible pumpingdiaphragm adapted to engage said section to enclose the chamber, meansfor reciprocating the diaphragm whereby to vary pressure conditionswithin the chamber, a conduit adapted to connect the pump chamber withan appliance to be pumped, a second conduit communicating with thechamber adjacent the bottom thereof, closure means for normally closingsaid second conduit and means for attaching a tube to said secondconduit in communication therewith upon removal of said closure meanswhereby to facilitate the introduction of cleaning fluid into thechamber and the withdrawal of such fluid therefrom.

PETER. A. FRIMAND.

